Q. Did you ever write any other fiction besides mystery?
A. Yes, I did. I'd written over 35 books before I started on the Hannah Swensen series. When I first began writing, I wrote thrillers. Then I tried my hand at young adult suspense, humor, contemporary romance and Regency romance. At one point in my life, I was writing in four different genres under four different pen names. If you check one of the on-line bookstores, you will find some of the older thrillers that I wrote under my real name in their used book section. In the past four years, I've decided to write only the mysteries. I really do like writing about Hannah and I'm so glad that's what I'm doing now. (Moderator Note: for listing of books and pen names of Joanne, click here).
Q. Can we freeze any of the cookies from your recipes in Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder? If so, how long can they be frozen?
A. Yes, you can freeze all of them, even the Lovely Lemon Bars. There's only one caution with them--you might have to put on more powdered sugar after you thaw them. They can stay in the freezer for at least six weeks, or as long as they last...which won't be long if your family is anything like my family! My second oldest son and my husband have confessed that the Chocolate Chip Crunch cookies and the Pecan Crisps are delicious while they're still frozen (and I thought I had the only key to the freezer!).
Q. Why did you make her mother a nag? Mothers aren't nags, we just want the best for our daughters.
A. Delores also wants the best for Hannah, but they have a very complicated psychological relationship. When Hannah's father died, Hannah came home to take care of Delores, who couldn't seem to cope on her own. That means Hannah saw her mother at her most vulnerable. Ever since then, Delores has tried to regain control as the mother by being more critical of Hannah than she is of Hannah's two younger sisters. She feels she must assert herself as the mother and head of the family.
Q. What will you name the next book after Lemon Merigue Pie Murder?
A. We just settled on a title last week, so your question comes at the perfect time. It'll be Fudge Cupcake Murder. Hiro Kimura, the cover artist for Strawberry, Blueberry and Lemon will be designing the cover. |
